The Responsive Apparel Design, RAD, Lab is a research group in the Department of Human Centered Design at Cornell University.
The goal of RAD is to study how extreme processing of fibers affects both the matrix and inclusions’ properties. We research how the processing can be modulated to affect different optical, mechanical, and electrical properties. We are particularly interested in exploring if the matrix, and/or the inclusions are dynamic, like in living systems.
Using our knowledge of materials science, chemistry, and fiber forming processes our goal is to create fibers that will have use in agriculture, protective, health, energy, and chemical sensing. The creation of new photonic textiles composed of optically functional fibers/fabrics (OFFs) for applications in apparel and more generally in textiles is of particular interest to our group.